This book presents the histories of the revolutions in Cuba,
Nicaragua, and Venezuela as the latest demonstrations of the price the
popular masses pay for the absence of a correct revolutionary strategy.
The goal of the leaders of the revolutionary movements in all three
countries was to create a progressive, independent bourgeois-democratic
state but contrary to expectations, the national bourgeoisie did not
welcome a national democratic revolution. Instead, faced with a mass
movement, it fought hard to re-assert its own and US imperialism’s
economic and political stranglehold, opposing increased democratic
rights, greater social equality, agrarian reform and the redistribution
of wealth.

We trace how, in all three countries, the national bourgeoisie joined
forces with imperialism and used violent methods to reverse the
progressive measures made, and when these attempts failed carried on a
campaign of economic sabotage to starve the masses into submission. In
Cuba the revolution was propelled forward by abolishing capitalism and
enormous conquests were made. In Nicaragua and Venezuela, the revolution
was stopped half way, leading to disaster and defeat.

As the world enters a decisive revolutionary epoch, reformists, just
as they did in Nicaragua and Venezuela, attempt to hold that revolution
back. In the face of all experience, their solution to social crises is
one which stubbornly remains within the narrow limits of capitalism.
This book is a contribution to the debate about revolutionary strategy.
It highlights the lessons to be learned from the recent past, argues
against the failed reformist approach and draws the conclusion that only
through the workers coming to power and expropriating the oligarchy can
we begin to overcome the exploitation and oppression of the masses.